Beautiful Photos inside the world's oldest church by Jamal Nasrallah

Two Jordanian archeologist workers works at the cave under an old church at the town of Rehab, Jordan, 10 June 2008. Jordanian Archeologists have discovered a cave underneath the Saint Georgeous Church in Rehab, Mafraq 65 km northeast of the Jordanian capital Amman which is described as the oldest Christian church in the world. PHOTOS:JAMAL NASRALLAH/EPA

About the Founder and Director

He spent years discovering Jordan's precious ancient past under ground. He headed departments in the country's Antiquities Ministry and taught students in university. It was not until October 2000 that he fulfilled his dream. With the approval of the government he founded the Rihab Center for Archaeological Studies. "I always felt there were amazing things to be found in this region."
Dr. Al-Housan's interest in archaeology was sparked at a young age in Al-Mafraq, not far from Rihab. "Our house is near an ancient city and as a child I gathered pottery shells and found small coins." He later studied at Istanbul University where he completed his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in archaeology.
He has published five books and is now working on his sixth, a study of pottery in the al-Mafraq region from the Early Bronze age to the Ottoman Period.

World's First Church

Seating area carved in stone in the cave of the world's first church, found in Rihab, Jordan under Saint Georgeous Church. Early Christians are believed to have taken refuge here from Roman persecution in Jerusalem. Photo: Rula Samain, Jordan Times.